Shoe-top former.



W. H. POPPE.

SHOE TOP FORMER.

APPLICATION' man MAR. l2, 1911.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

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= TE I1 WALTER H. POPPE, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

SHOE-Tor FORMER.

Application led March 12, 1917.

To all whom t may concern:

-Be it known that I, WALTER I-I. Porre, a citizen ofthe-United States, resident of VMinneapolis, county of Hennepin, State of Minnesota, have invented certain newl and useful Improvements in Shoe-Top Formers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a device for holding up the top of a ladys high boot 0r shoe and prevent it from dropping down and wrinkling and also to stretch the top preparatory to cleaning or polishing the boot.

A further object is to provide a former for holding the top of the 'boot properly stretched when it is placed in a display window.

A further object is to provide a simple, inexpensive device designed for use in ,connection with an ordinary boot or shoe tree, provision being made for mountingv the former on the rear portion of the tree.

The invention Consists generally in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a view of a ladys boot with high top, with a portion of the upper and top broken away to illustrate my invention therein,

Fig. 2 is a detail view, looking down on the top of the former,

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view, showing the manner of mounting the former on the tree of the shoe or boot.

In the drawing, 2 represents a ladys boot, having the well-known high top 3 provided with lacing edges L and eyelets 5. 6 is a tree fitting within the boot and having a recess 7 formed therein over the heel portion of the boot7 whereon my imyproved former device is mounted. 8 represents a member having studs 9 thereon seated within recesses 10 in the side walls of the recess and projecting upwardly through the angle portion of the boot. 11 is a second member mounted to telescope with the member 8 and having a pin 12 therein that is slidable in slots 13 provided in the member 8. These members are thereby mounted to telescope or slide longitudinally, one upon the other. A lever 14 is pivoted at 15 to the lower end of the member 8 and its upper end has a pivotal connection at 16 with a link 17 that Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Dee. 24., 191s.

Serial No. 154,084.

is pivoted at 18 on the member l1. This lever is provided with a suitable finger grip v 19. The rocking of the lever 14 on its pivot will move it toward or from the member S and this lever, with the link 17, forms a toggle connection between the two members, operatingy to raise the upper member when the toggle is straightened and allow them to telescope one upon the other when the toggle is straightened or when it is broken. An arm 19 is provided at the upper end of the member 11 and projects upwardly and rearwardly therefrom and has a curved plate 20 which bears on the rear of the shoe and preferably has pin points 21 forY digging into the leather and gripping the top. A plate 22, preferably of spring material, is secured at one end to the member 11 and projects forwardly therefrom and is provided with a cross arm 23 having lugs Q4 to enter the opposite eyelets in the lacing edges of the shoe. When, therefore, the member 11 is raised, the spring plate 22 will be put under tension to lift up on the boot leg with a yielding tension, which will straighten out the leather, canvas or cloth o-f which the leg isf made and hold it smooth and taut, and positively prevent it from wrinkling or creasing while being cleaned or when placed in a display window, and also keep the top or leg from dropping down and getting out of shape when the boot is not worn. The engagement of the upper end of the arm 19 with the upper portion of the top will serve to press it outwardly and stretch the upper part o-f the leg between the point where the lugs enter the eyelets and where the arm 19 engages the top.

To release the device, the finger grip 19 is pulled forwardly until the toggle is broken, when the members may be telescoped and the lugs 24 be disengaged from the eyelets.

The device may be made in various sizes and in various ways the details of construction herein shown and described may be modifie-d, the essential feature of the inven-v tion consisting in the means for straighten ing or stretching the boot leg for display, cleaning or other purposes.

I claim as my invention:

1. A shoe top former comprising a member having means for mounting it within a shoe and provided with a part for engaging the top of the leg at the front thereof,

and a lever device for extendingy said member to stretch the leg.

2. A shoe top former comprising a member having means for mounting it Within a Yshoe and a toggle lever operated part for engaging the top of the leg at the front and back thereof to straighten or stretch the leg.

3. A shoe former comprising upright, relatively movable members, one to be seated in the bottom of the shoe and the othery having an armfor engagingv the rear upper portion of the shoe leg, Va spring plate mounted on said last lnamed member and projecting forwardly 'therefrom and having laterally extending parts for entering the eyelets and a lever device for moving one member with respect t0 the other and thereby putting Ysaid. spring plate under tension to stretchthe leg of the shoe. Y

4. A 'shoe former comprisingIk a mem-ber composed of sections sldable one upon the other, the lower section having a seat Within the shoe, the ,upper section having a part to (opielly of this .patent may he obtained for :the rear portiony thereof,.a member seated in said recess, a secondinember mounted for longitudinal movement thereon and provided With. meansV for engaging'v the upper part of the shoetop and a lever device for raising said` second member-to. stretch the shoe top.

In Witness whereof, l have hereunto set .my lhand this 9th day ofMarch 1917,. l

WALTER' H. rorPE.Y

ve centscaeh, by addressing the Commissioner o! Patents, Washington, D. C. 

